What Makes the Brooks Glycerin 23 Better Than Ever? Our Review

The Brooks Glycerin have been a long time favorite of many runners. Their comfort, cushioning, and durability make them a shoe that runners can rely on for many miles. Their newest release of the Glycerin 23 follows this reputation of a reliable, cushioned running shoe. Let’s talk about some of the changes to this new model.It seems like many shoe brands just keep improving the quality of their cushioning, and Brooks is no different. While these aren’t the most highly cushioned shoe (especially compared to the Glycerin Max 2) they provide a soft and responsive feel.

At model 23 they’re still looking for ways to keep two decades of shoe love alive and we think the updates here will do that. Let’s be honest, as someone who has loved the shoe for a long time it was a relief to confirm the updates were on the whole a win.

Brooks Glycerin 23 Overview

I’ve been wearing Brooks Glycerins for 6 years now, so I’ve tried out many different models of the shoe. I’ve found that some have had a softer feel than others, some offered more or less stability, and a few versions have a slightly smaller toe box.

I found that the Glycerin 23s are a nice upgrade, but I did think the toe box felt more snug.

I wore these for easy runs up to 7 miles but I could tell they would be great for long runs. It feels like the cushioning on this version will hold up really well over many miles, which we will follow up on in a few months to verify!

I also appreciate the wide platform and cupped heel, keeping my foot in place.

While there were small changes that I’ll get into later, the biggest difference is the updated cushioning.

The Glycerin 23 uses nitrogen infused DNA Tuned cushioning, the same as the Glycerin 22s, with 2mm more foam in the forefoot. YES!! In our Glycerin 22, we mentioned a few times wisher for more under the forefoot. Clearly Brooks is taking feedback from runners.

The cushion never like I was sinking in to the shoe. This is an issue for overly plush shoes, which can lead to lower back pain if we are sinking in and changing form.

These shoes were created with a tune dual cell technique which means the heel has large cells for plush landings and the forefoot has small cells for responsive toe-offs. I was surprised to find that I could feel the difference here. I usually notice cushioning in the heel and mid foot, but I could tell the forefoot was nicely cushioned as well.While the Glycerin 23s weigh .4 ounces more than the 22s, this change was so minor that I hardly noticed it. Most of it was likely in the padding for the upper or maybe that extra 2mm cushion.

Some have said this a shoe you can pick up the pace and I could see that to an extent. It’s certainly a shoe that the middle of the pack could wear for marathon day, but it’s not a lightweight running shoe and it’s not that bouncy. So truly picking up the pace for hard efforts, not so much in this shoe.

This is a fairly classic style of running shoe with some basic color options. I like the light pink with black and bright pink accents, but there aren’t many other colorful options like we sometimes see for other shoe models.

Brooks Glycerin 23 Fit

The Glycerin 23s have a comfortable, familiar fit. I have noticed that with some versions my feet get a little tight in the toe box. I thought this version felt tighter than the 22s.

I’d say if you are in between sizes or sometimes need a wide shoe to either size up or try the wider version.I thought there was plenty of space in the midsole and heel.

The upper is thicker and plusher, adding some additional comfort and even warmth on colder days. I don’t think these would be too warm to wear in the heat, as I’ve had no issues wearing them on my treadmill in my warm basement.

I thought the tongue might be too thick, but the laces hold it in place nicely. The padded heel collar wraps smoothly around the back of the foot, and even has an elastic pull making it easy to slide the shoes on.

For some reason, the laces are unusually small. I like to double or triple tie my laces, and getting a double knot was a challenge with these.

While I could feel the support from the wide platform, I could have used a touch more arch support, but that is just personal preference. This was certainly not a deal breaker for me.

Overall this felt like a fairly stable shoe, with enough space in the heel and mid foot, but a narrower toe box. The warm padding and elastic heel strap are nice touches.

Glycerin 23 Feel

As I’ve said, the Glycerins are known for being a cushioned shoe that will last plenty of miles. This version felt less flexible, but not in a bad way.

It felt like they would hold up even better on long runs than previous versions and maybe even give a little extra support as your feet and legs start to tire. You can feel that it’s soft and comfortable, but also more responsive throughout the run than the 22, with just enough support to make this a shoe that is great for long distances.

The midsole drop changed from 10mm to 8mm, given the extra foam in the forefoot.This is actually a pretty big deal because Brooks for so long has been on the higher end of heel to doe drop. We’ve seen that a more moderate drop might actually be beneficial to preventing knee pain for many runners.

BUT the real reason it’s happening now is that with the increasing amount of foam, they had to change the geometry of the shoe to ensure the ride remained comfortable.

Again, a change that I didn’t notice on it’s own. I think all the updates together worked well to create a soft, responsive, and supportive shoe.

The mesh upper moved well with my foot, and the tongue and heel stayed in place while I was running. I think these shoes would be comfortable enough for marathon training long runs or even a full marathon.

Finally, we have to give a nod to the full coverage rubber on the outsole. This has become an area that is often cut back on to save weight in shoes lately, but the coverage does really help with durability in a daily trainer.

Similar Shoes to the Brooks Glycerin 23

We’ve tested a few daily trainers with that moderate cushion that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit: 

Glycerin 22 vs Glycerin 23

Now we answer the question that so many are wondering, should you buy the on sale older model (or stock up if you loved it) or is it better to buy the newer model. Find our full review of the Glycerin 22 here and differences below.

• Same type of foam in both for very similar feel
• Same total stack height in both, but 2mm more in 23 forefoot which was needed
• 8mm drop in 23 is an update for runners with good ankle mobility to reduce knee pressure
• 22 is actually the lighter shoe, which might go to why we feel less like the 23 is good to pick up the pace
• Glycerin 23 is $10 more…also shoe prices are going up so not surprising, but we wish more daily trainers would find ways to stay around the $140 mark

In the end putting it all side by side, their both good options. We do prefer the 23 for the forefoot cushion and the heel drop so we would lean towards saying this time around buy the newer model rather than saving.

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